UP: Place of worship set on fire in Faizabad

Faizabad (UP), Aug 18: A place of worship was set afire by hurling petrol bombs allegedly by some unidentified persons in Kotwali city police station area here, police said on Tuesday.

However, no one was injured in the incident, they said. Some unidentified persons allegedly hurled petrol bombs at the place of worship last night, police said.

An FIR has been lodged against unidentified persons, Faizabad District Magistrate Anil Dheengra said, adding that some police teams have been formed to nab the culprits.

After the incident, heavy police force and CRPF have been deployed in the city to prevent any untoward incident, police said.

On spotting the flames, neighbours raised an alarm and with help of locals they doused the fire in two hours, they said. According to sources, the locals had called fire brigade but no fire tender was available at that time.

Few live petrol bombs were recovered from the spot which did not explode, the sources claimed. Some books and mats which were kept on the front side of the building, were gutted in the fire, they said.

Meanwhile, a group of leaders belonging to the community warned the administration that if the accused are not nabbed in next 48 hours then they will be compelled to launch an agitation.

PTI